Rosberg doubts Ferrari can match Mercedes development charge

Nico Rosberg believes when the development race takes control of the 2017 Formula 1 world championship Mercedes will pull clear of Ferrari in the title charge.

The 2016 F1 world champion has full faith his former team has the stronger resources and ability to develop its current car, the W08, towards the end of the season while switching some focus to its 2018 challenger.

Despite Ferrari’s recent resurgence with four wins in 2017, Rosberg also believes the remaining nine rounds are at circuits which will also favour Mercedes, with the standout exception of Singapore, which will ultimately swing the balance of the F1 title in the favour of the German manufacturer.

"Ferari have really done a great job over the winter," Rosberg told SPORTBILD. "But now it will be a development race.

“I find it hard to believe that Ferrari can keep up. After Silverstone I had already thought: That's it now. I was surprised that Ferrari in Hungary hadn’t fallen back again. Spa would have to be a full-on the Mercedes-track. Ferrari is unlikely to have a chance."

Mercedes already holds a 39-point advantage over Ferrari in the current F1 world constructors’ championship, while Sebastian Vettel has a 14-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings.